Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah 3The Message (MSG)

Sewer City

3 1-5 Doom to the rebellious city,the home of oppressors—Sewer City!The city that wouldn’t take advice,wouldn’t accept correction,Wouldn’t trust God,wouldn’t even get close to her own god!Her very own leadersare rapacious lions,Her judges are rapacious timber wolvesout every morning prowling for a fresh kill.Her prophets are out for what they can get.They’re opportunists—you can’t trust them.Her priests desecrate the Sanctuary.They use God’s law as a weapon to maim and kill souls.Yet God remains righteous in her midst,untouched by the evil.He stays at it, day after day, meting out justice.At evening he’s still at it, strong as ever.But evil men and women, without conscienceand without shame, persist in evil.

6 “So I cut off the godless nations.I knocked down their defense posts,Filled her roads with rubbleso no one could get through.Her cities were bombed-out ruins,unlivable and unlived in.

7 “I thought, ‘Surely she’ll honor me now,accept my discipline and correction,Find a way of escape from the trouble she’s in,find relief from the punishment I’m bringing.’But it didn’t faze her. Bright and earlyshe was up at it again, doing the same old things.

8 “Well, if that’s what you want, stick around.”God’s Decree.“Your day in court is coming,but remember I’ll be there to bring evidence.I’ll bring all the nations to the courtroom,round up all the kingdoms,And let them feel the brunt of my anger,my raging wrath.My zeal is a firethat will purge and purify the earth.

God Is in Charge at the Center

9-13 “In the end I will turn things around for the people.I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted,Words to address God in worshipand, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel.They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers,they’ll come praying—All my scattered, exiled peoplewill come home with offerings for worship.You’ll no longer have to be ashamedof all those acts of rebellion.I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders.No more pious strutting on my holy hill!I’ll leave a core of people among youwho are poor in spirit—What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel.They’ll make their home in God.This core holy peoplewill not do wrong.They won’t lie,won’t use words to flatter or seduce.Content with who they are and where they are,unanxious, they’ll live at peace.”

14-15 So sing, Daughter Zion!Raise the rafters, Israel!Daughter Jerusalem,be happy! celebrate!God has reversed his judgments against youand sent your enemies off chasing their tails.From now on, God is Israel’s king,in charge at the center.There’s nothing to fear from evilever again!

God Is Present Among You

16-17 Jerusalem will be told:“Don’t be afraid.Dear Zion,don’t despair.Your God is present among you,a strong Warrior there to save you.Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his loveand delight you with his songs.

18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exilewill dissipate.I, your God, will get rid of them for you.You’ve carried those burdens long enough.At the same time, I’ll get rid of all thosewho’ve made your life miserable.I’ll heal the maimed;I’ll bring home the homeless.In the very countries where they were hatedthey will be venerated.On Judgment DayI’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!You’ll be famous and honoredall over the world.You’ll see it with your own eyes—all those painful partings turned into reunions!”God’s Promise.

You'll get this book and many others when you join Bible Gateway Plus. Learn more

You must be logged in to view your newly purchased content. Please log in below or if you don't have an account, creating one is easy and only takes a few moments. After you log in your content will be available in your library.

Share

Step 1 - Create an account or log in to start your free trial.

Starting your free trial of Bible Gateway Plus is easy. You’re already logged in with your Bible Gateway account. The next step is to enter your payment information. Your credit card won’t be charged until the trial period is over. You can cancel anytime during the trial period.

Already Subscribed

Want an ad-free Bible Gateway?

Try Bible Gateway Plus, a brand-new service that lets you experience Bible Gateway free of banner ads! It also gives you instant access to over 40 Bible study and inspirational devotional books, including the NIV Study Bible. With Bible Gateway Plus, you can experience and understand God's Word in life-changing new ways, without the distraction of ads. Try it free for 30 days—you can cancel at any time. Following your 30-day free trial, Bible Gateway Plus is only $3.99/month.